I am happy to report that June, my "Busy Month", is nearly over. The dinner theater in which I was participating was a success, and fun was had by all. BUT, what I didn't report last time is that my role was as Matre d', (yes, that is traditionally a MALE, but we live in a little town where no one knew the difference...) Not only was I improvising arguments with the head waiter all evening, shouting over the heads of the bewildered guests about how incompetent he was, I was actually greeting and seating people, and serving tables. The show ran for two weekends for a total of five performances.

I had forgotten what a lot of work it is to wait tables for a living! The good news is that I didn't do anything really clumsy, and I stayed on my feet the entire time, and didn't spill anything on anyone, including myself. I tell you this because way back when I really did work as a waitress I was famous for my clumsiness. I got fired from one job when I spilled red wine on a lady's white wool blazer, but my most spectacular blunder was the time I smashed twelve open-faced hamburgers with lots of sauces against myself while trying not to drop my over-filled tray. I was saved from sacking that time because I looked so funny. The people at my table were in hysterics, and didn't mind waiting for their order to be remade.

I suppose the brief "waitress" phase of my life actually lead me to work in the kitchen, and ultimately to call myself "Chef", and to travel around the world on fancy yachts. I'm glad I did all that adventuring when I was in my 20's and 30's. I once met a woman who had done it the other way around - she had children young then went sailing while she was still fit and strong. It meant educating her three sons in boarding schools, however, and I think I would have a problem with that. I see my children as gifts, and I want to spend all the time I can with them while they still want to spend their time with me. I figure one day they'll want to explore as I did, then Handsome Husband and I will be on our own again. Hopefully we'll still have enough energy to travel!

Today I try to imagine a place I would rather be, but I can't think of one. So I spend a lot of time thinking about what made me do the bold things I did when I was an adventurer, and how I can share those experiences with others. I had a drive and a passion that I believe you have to be born with. I simply could not follow the rules my society set by spending my life indoors 5 of every 7 days. Now I write stories, and I read about other adventurers. I listen to BBC World Service, http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/, so I can understand what a world traveler might face today. I suppose my advice to all you would-be adventurers for this installment is to open your eyes. Read, listen, learn. Be prepared for your chance to escape the mundane.